“And the quality has been terrible. A lot of the articles in the papers are just clickbait nonsense that’s been pulled straight from the websites”.

The striker added that the job losses “don’t make it any easier for them upstairs to produce newspapers”.

And he pointed out that a recent edition of Newsquest’s Croydon Guardian, which now has no reporters, carried just four stories about Croydon in 36 pages. The rest of the paper was made up of adverts and “generic copy”.

Articles in other Newsquest papers have been printed under incorrect, irrelevant headlines, or with spelling mistakes.

The NUJ sent out an appeal today, Wednesday, asking supporters in south London to help with leafleting and to join the strikers on the picket line.

It said the resignations had left the picket line smaller, “but even more resolved to carry on the action to fight for more staff”.

The striker added that it had been “a bit difficult” to keep up strike activities. But he said there was still widespread support, and further activities planned.

Strikers plan to visit parliament tomorrow to meet with MPs in the NUJ parliamentary group.

The striker also said there will be a work to rule when the strike ends on Friday and journalists go back to work on Monday. And there could be more strikes if bosses don’t budge.

Strikers are asking for donations to the strike fund. Email bernardr@nuj.org.uk noting the amount and send the money to: Account number 20143387 Sort code 608301

Join the picket lines from 9am at The Qudrant, Sutton, SM2 5AS (next to Sutton station)